Introduction

Proponent

Ministry of Transportation

Location

Northern Ontario

Type

Transportation

Reference Number

06076

Contact

Environmental Approvals Branch, 416-314-8001

Toll free 1-800-461-6290

Current Status

Declaration order: granted, December 29, 2006

Project Summary

Planning process for the development and expansion of remote northern airports, pursuant to the Remote Northern Airport Program.

Project History

  • Declaration order: granted
    • Date submitted: October 27, 2006
    • Decision date: December 29, 2006

Declaration Order

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) requested an extension to its approved planning process for the development and expansion of remote northern airports, pursuant to the Remote Northern Airport Program (RNAP), approved under Exemption Order MTC-58 (O. Reg. 407/90).

This program sets out the planning process that MTO must follow with respect to the construction of new remote northern airports, as well as expansions to existing remote northern airports and improvements to airport access roads. MTO requested a 10-year extension to the existing approval.

A new remote airport is a gravel strip set in a cleared area and connected by a gravel road to a nearby community. Expansions to existing remote airports involve the extension of a runway or the addition of a cross runway (only on sites where adverse wind conditions prevent aircraft from landing on the existing runway). Road improvements are undertaken only when existing access roads are inoperable.

Remote northern airports are located in the far north of Ontario – north of 50 degrees latitude. Virtually all remote northern airports are in Aboriginal communities and these remote northern airports are usually the only link between the communities and the rest of the province. Remote northern airports relieve isolation in remote northern regions, facilitate economic movement of goods and people, provide local employment, encourage economic development and improve access to needed services, such as health care. There are currently 29 remote northern airports – 16 are on federal Indian Reserve land, 2 are partially on and off reserve land and 11 are off reserve.

The establishment and expansion of remote northern airports are undertaken only in response to a request from, and with the cooperation and approval of, the Band Council of the First Nation to be served by the airport.

MTO has been exempt from the requirements to prepare an individual environmental assessment under the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) with respect to remote northern airports since 1976. The rationale for the original approval of RNAP via an Exemption Order was that application of RNAP ensured the environment was well protected.

On October 27, 2006, MTO applied for a 10-year extension to the existing approval, which was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2006, in order to maintain the status of RNAP as exempt from the requirements of the EAA. The extension request was granted on December 29, 2006, for a period of 10 years, in order to ensure continued access to remote communities and to ensure the health and safety of northern residents were not put at risk.